Safety-envelop.



PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908.

R. W.- VAIL. SAFETY ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1906.

THE NORRIS PETERS co., wnsmuawu, n. 2:.

FFIGE.

ROBERT WILLIAM VAIL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY-ENVELOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed June 14. 1906. Serial No. 132L781.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT WILLIAM V AIL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety envelops, and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved envelop of this class which will effectively prevent unsealing and tampering with the contents without detection.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved envelop of the class described which will possess advantages in point of security, safety, convenience, ineX pensiveness, effectiveness, and general efficlency.

In carrying out the objects above stated, my invention comprises an improved envelop in which safety sealing by means of a mass of sealing-wax or plastic material is en abled, which sealing means is adapted, by the structural features of the envelop, to so engage the paper of which the envelop is constructed that any breakage or destruction of said. sealing means and an attempt to restore the same to original condition will be readily detected.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a rear face View of the envelop when sealed. Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the envelop with the sealingflap in elevated position. Fig. 3 is a detail front face 'view of the sealing structure comprised in the back-sheet. Fig. 4 is a detail rear face view of the sealing structure comprised in the sealing-flap. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line :c-ar, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section. of one of the projecting tongues, taken on the line 2z, Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a detail face view corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 and illustrating a modified construction. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line y, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 5 and illustrating a supplementary construction.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the envelop, which is in the main of ordinary or usual construction, comprising the back-sheet, 2, and the sealing-flap, 3, which latter may carry the usual sealing material, such as mucilage or the like, at its edge, as at 4.

At a convenient point on the portion of the back-sheet 2 which is covered by the sealingfiap 3, the back-sheet is provided with an outwardly-projecting ridge, as at 5, preferably of annular or circular contour' and having corrugations, as at 6, for the purpose of strengthening or facilitating the retention of the normal contour of said ridge, this normal contour being preferably convex, as shown. The paper of the back-sheet 2 is cut away, within the ridge 5, to form open portions or spaces, as at 7, thus forming intervening projecting paper-portions within the ridge 5, which projecting portions may be in the form of tongues, as shown at 8 in Figs. 2 and 3. The sealing-flap 3 is likewise provided with a corresponding ridge, as at 9, at a suitable point adapted to register with the ridge 5 of the back-sheet 2, when the flap is sealed, and overlap or fit over said ridge 5, said ridge 9 of the sealing-flap 3 therefore projecting outwardly in a convex manner corresponding to the ridge 5 of the back-sheet 2. In general construction and arrangement the ridge and. associate structure of the sealing flap 3 corresponds to the corresponding registering structure of the back-sheet 2, the ridge 9 preferably having similar corrugations, as at 10, and the sealing-flap having similar open or cut away portions within its ridge, as at 11, forming similar projecting tongues,-as at 12. The relative construction is preferably such that the tongues 8 and 12 of the respective backsheet and sealing-flap portions project at opposite points and when the parts are registered have an intermediate position with respect to each other, whereby the combined series of tongues are in circular or concentric arrangement within the registering ridges when the flap 3 is in secured po sition or sealed by its adhesive edge 4 to the back-sheet 2. a

The edges of the ton ues 8 and 12 are preferably turned outwardly, as at 14, in a corresponding relative manner and direction with respect to the succession of the tongues forming the complete circular series when the ridges 5 and 9 register, for which purpose the tongues preferably have a portion of the edges which are thus turned notched or cut away, as at 15, at the point of junction of the tongue with the ridge which is comprisedin the paper sheet forming respectively the back-sheet 2 and the sealing-flap 3. The tongues 8 and 12 may be strengthened or stiffened in the maintenance of their projecting position and turned edges by corrugations extending through the tongues and from the ridges, as shown at 16, which formation will impart to the projecting tongues an outwardly-bowed or convex contour.

The ridges and tongues, with their corrugations or indentations and turned edges and other structural characteristics as hereinabove described, may be formed by a suit able embossing or pressing machine acting upon the back-sheet 2 and sealing-flap 3, and at the same time or in the same machine the open or cut-away portions, 7 and 11, respectively, may be formed.

When the flap 3 is sealed or brought to relative position with res ect to the back-sheet 2, and the ridge 9 overfaps and registers with the ridge 5, there is formed at the outsideof the sealing-flap a cup-shaped depression, as at 17, for containing sealing wax or other suitable plastic material, shown at 18. In applying the wax 18, it may be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, so that it will engage under the turned edges 14 of the projecting tongues and fill the space between and under all of the tongues and within the outside depression or cup 17 After the wax is applied, in the manner just stated, it can be impressed at its outer surface with a desired initial, emblem or mark, as at 19, forming an identifying seal.

To prevent the wax 18 from contacting with or affecting or injuring the contents of the envelop, when the safety sealing is effected by the application of the wax as above described, and to furthermore augment the, safety efliciency of the improved envelop, the back-sheet 2 may be interiorly provided with a strip or flap, 20, secured adhesively or otherwise, as at 21, to the inner surface of the back-sheet, and underlying or extending across and beneath the open or cut-away portions 7 which are Within the ridge 5 of the back-sheet. The wax 18, in filling the space between the registering ridges 5 and 9'and around the tongues 8 and 12, is thus retained by the strip 20 from contact with the contents of the envelop, and said protective strip 20 is preferably formed of an absorbent paper or analogous material which will by absorption mingle with the wax and form a secure or permanent contact or connection therewith. It will be noted that the wax 18 covers and incloses within its mass or body all of the projecting paper-tongues 8 and 12, or the paper structure extending in the space within the registering and overlapping ridges 5 and 9, and adheres thereto, as well as to the interior protective covering or strip 20.

The operation and advantages of my intransportation of the envelop.

vention will be readily understood. When the flap 8 is brought to operative position with relation to the back-sheet 2, or sealed thereto by its adhesive edge 4, and the wax 18 is applied within the space between the registering ridges 5 and 9 with its mass inclosing the projecting portions 8 and 12 within said ridges and passing through the open or cut away portions 7 and 11 and contacting with the interior stri 20, and the outer surface of the wax is sea ed with the identifying mark 19, the envelop is effectively sealed against unsealing or tampering with the contents without detection. The release of the sealing edge 4 by steaming or otherwise,

would of course leave the wax seal-construction intact, and the destruction of the wax seal 18 would not only destroy the identifying mark 19 but would also essentially destroy the projecting paper-portions or tongues 8 and 12 which are within the mass of the wax, and would also destroy the adhering interior protective strip or flap 20 and the contour of the ridges 5 and 9, and thus any attempt to provide a substitute wax seal could be detected. The invention thus provides an effective sealing medium against any tampering with the contents of the envelop without detection, in which connection it will be especially noted that the means by which the wax seal 18 is adhesively connected to the paper of the envelop, and also the surrounding parts, are essentially destroyed if the wax seal is broken or removed, inasmuch as such adhesive connections are embedded and inclosed within and surrounded by a mass or body of the wax.

Under some circumstances of use, it will be understood that the employment of the sealing edge 4 is not essential, as the improved structure associated with the wax seal 18, as comprised in my invention and improvements and herein described, willeffectively serve all sealing purposes in the use and It will be further noted that the improved structure, comprising the projecting ridges surrounding the wax seal, forms an eifective protection for the wax seal against damage or breakage thereto, and leaves no projecting edges of the wax upon a free or exposed surface of the paper, which would be liable to be engaged and result in accidental breakage of or damage to the wax seal, as is the case when wax seals are applied in the usual manner to free or exposed surfaces of paper.

The projecting portions of the paper which are inclosed within the mass or body of the wax seal, 18 and which exist in the space withinthe ridges 5 and 9 intermediately between the open or cut-away portions 7 and 11, need not essentially be in the form of the projecting tongues or strips 8 and 12, but may be of any other suitable or adapted form or arrangement which will provide projecting paper-portions or strips equivalent to said tongues and intervening open or cutaway portions. For instance, the paper within the ridges may be simply perforated or provided with any suitably-shaped openings or slots. In this connection, I have shown one form of modification in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the portion of the paper within the ridges is irregularly cut out or perforated, to form a lace-work consisting of connected ribs or cross-pieces, as at 22, separated by intervening open or cut-away portions, as at 23. In such modification, or other analogous modifications, where the portion of the paper within the ridges is perforated or slotted, said portion is preferably pressed or stamped into convex contour, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the wax 18 may spread under and around all of said portions which are to be embedded in its mass or body.

In Fig. 9, I have illustrated a supplementary construction, embodying a stiffening plate or strip, as at 24, which is preferably of annular or ring form and may be constructed of a thin piece of aluminium or any other adapted material. This plate is secured in position by the protective strip or fiap 20 and embodies a ridge or projection, as at 25, entering the ridge 5 of the back-sheet 2 and preferably conforming thereto, whereby both the ridges 5 and 9 will be strengthened and maintained in their normal contour. The inner edge of the plate 24 may be bent up to form projections, as at 26, preferably of angular form, which will project through the open portions 7 and 11, at the edge of said open portions, and thus serve not only to brace and maintain the adjacent structural parts of the back-sheet 2 and sealing-flap 3 in nor mal contour but will also be engaged and surrounded by the mass of wax 18 and thus constitute an additional means for effectively securing the wax and preventing undetected tampering therewith.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the detail construction and arrangement of parts as herein shown and de' scribed, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to, in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as prop-- erly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, said overlying outwardly-projecting integral ridge of the paper or material constituting the meeting portion of the envelop being adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material.

2. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardlyprojecting ridges provided with corrugations or ribs to strengthen and retain the contour, the ridges being integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, said overlying outwardlyprojecting integral ridge of the paper or material constituting the meeting portion of the envelop being adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material.

3. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges which are convex in cross-section and integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and over lap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, said overlying outwardly-projecting integral ridge of the paper or material constituting the meeting portion of the envelop being adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material.

4. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges which are convex in cross-section and provided with corrugations or ribs to strengthen and retain the contour, the ridges being integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, said overlying outwardly-projecting integral ridge of the paper or material constituting the meeting portion of the envelop being adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material.

5. An improved safety envelop of the class 4 described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges constituting an exterior cup for retaining the mass of a plastic sealing material and integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed.

6. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon'the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being cut away in the space within said ridges to form openings adapted to receive the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges.

7. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constitutingthe meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips projecting into the space within said ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges.

8. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips having outwardly-turned edges and projecting into the space within said. ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plas tic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges.

9. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardlyprojecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips having edges turned outwardly in a corre sponding relative manner with respect to the succession of tongues or strips forming the complete series when the ridges meet and register, said tongues or strips projecting into the space within said ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges.

10. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paperor material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly-projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips projecting into the space within said ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, said tongues or strips upon the respective meeting portions of the envelop projecting in non-registering position when the envelop is closed.

11. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips projecting into the space within said ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, said tongues or strips upon the respective meeting portions of the en' velop projecting in non-registering position when the envelop is closed and havlng outwardly-turned edges.

12'. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly -projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips projecting into the space within said ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, said tongues or strips upon the respective meeting portions of the envelop projecting in non-registering position when the envelop is closed and having edges turned outwardly in a corresponding relative mannerwith respect to the succession of tongues or strips forming the complete series when the ridges meet and register.

13. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips projecting into the space within said ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, said tongues or strips be ing formed with ribs or ridges to strengthen is closed, the portion of the paper or material and retain their projective position.

14. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into projecting tongues or strips provided with outwardly-turned edges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing ma terial passing under said outwardly-turne edges.

15. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into projecting tongues or strips with edges turned outwardly in a corresponding relative manner with respect to the succession of tongues or strips forming the complete series when the meeting portions of the envelop register, said tongues or strips being adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material passing under said outwardly-turned edges.

16. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper ormaterial constituting its meeting portions formed into projecting tongues or strips adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material, said tongues or strips upon the respective meetingportions of the envelop projecting in non-registering position when the envelop is closed.

17. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into projecting tongues or strips adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material, said tongues or strips upon the respective meeting portions of the envelop projecting in non-registering position when the envelop is closed and having outwardly-turned edges.

18. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into projecting tongues or strips adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material, said tongues or strips upon the respective meeting portions of the envelop projecting in non-registering position when the envelop is closed and having edges turned outwardly in a corresponding relative manner with respect to the succession of tongues or strips forming the complete series when the meeting portions of the envelop register.

19. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being cut away in the space within said ridges to form openings adapted to receive the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, and the underlying meeting portion being provided with a separate protective strip extending across and beneath said openings.

20. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardlyprojecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being cut away in the space within said ridges to form openings adapted to receive the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, and the underlying meeting portion being provided with a separate protective strip of absorbent material extending across and beneath said openings and adapted to be absorbently engaged by said plastic sealing material.

21. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper, or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips projecting into the space within said ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, and the underlying meeting portion being provided with a separate protective strip extending across and beneath said tongues or strips.

22. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardlyprojecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being formed into tongues or strips projecting into the space within said ridges and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, and the underlying meeting portion being provided with a separate protective strip of absorbent material extending across and beneath said tongues or strips and adapted to be absorbently engaged by said plastic sealing material.

23. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions cut away to form registering openings and integral tongues or strips projecting into said openings and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material, the underlying meeting portion being provided with a separate protective strip extending beneath and across said openings and tongues and adapted to be engaged by said plastic sealing material.

24. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions cut away to form registering openings and integral tongues or strips pro ecting into said openings and adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic {sealing material, the underlying meeting portion being provided with a separate protective strip of absorbent material extending beneath and across said openings and tongues and adapted to be absorbently engaged by said plastic sealing material.

25. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges constituting an exterior cup for retaining the mass of a plastic sealing material and integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being cut away in the space within said ridges constituting the exterior cup to form openings adapted to receive the mass of a plastic sealing material, and the underlying meeting portion being provided with a separate protective strip extending beneath and across said openings and forming the bottom of the cup.

26. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly-projecting ridges constituting an exterior cup for retaining the mass of a plastic sealing material and integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other whenthe envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being cut away in the space within said ridges constituting the exterior cup to form openings adapted to receive the mass of a plastic sealing material, and the underlying meeting portion being provided with a separate protective strip of absorbent material extending beneath and across said openings and constituting an absorbent bottom for the cup.

-27. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material of the envelop formed into an outwardlyprojecting integral ridge constituting an exterior cup for retaining the mass of a plastic sealing material and having openings cosaid cup, and provided with separate protective strip underlying said openings and forming the cup bottom.

28. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, said overlying outwardlyprojecting integral ridge of the paper or material constituting the meeting portion of the envelop being adapted to be engaged by the mass of a plastic sealing material, and provided with a stiffening plate interiorly projecting within said registering integral ridges.

29. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constitutin the meeting portions of the envelop being cut away in the spacewithin said ridges to form openings adapted to receive the mass of a-plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, and provided with a stiffening plate interiorly projecting within said registering integral ridges, the underlying meeting portion having a securing strip retaining said stifiening plate in connection therewith and extending beneath and across said openings.

30. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly projecting ridges integral with the body of said meetlng portions and arranged to relatively register and I overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper ormaterial constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being cut away in the space within said ridges to form openings adapted to receive the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space within said ridges, and provided with a stiffening plate'interiorly projecting within said registering integral ridges, the underlying meeting portion having a securing strip of absorbent material retaining said stiffening plate in connection therewith and extending beneath and across said openings and adapted to be absorbently engaged by said plastic sealing material.

31. An improved safety envelop of the class described, having the paper or material constituting its meeting portions formed into corresponding outwardly-projecting ridges integral with the body of said meeting portions and arranged to relatively register and incident with the space or area inclosed by 1 overlap one upon the other when the envelop is closed, the portion of the paper or material constituting the meeting portions of the envelop being cut away in the space Within said ridges to form openings adapted to receive the mass of a plastic sealing material placed in the space Within said ridges, and a stiffening plate interiorly projecting Within the registering integral ridges and having projectionsextending Within said openings.

In testimony Whereof I have signed my 10 name in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

ROBERT WILLIAM VAIL.

Witnesses:

Jos. REED LITTELL, BESSIE COSTIGAN. 

